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Predicting and Explaining Presidential Elections

Programs for Teachers

Chicago Teachers as Scholars

Monday, October 20, 2008 to Tuesday, October 21, 2008

During the Fall of 2008, we will be coming to the end of the longest, and perhaps the most exciting, presidential campaign in recent American history. Surveys indicate an extraordinarily high level of public interest in this election, especially among younger people. This seminar will provide an overview of what political scientists know about presidential elections. We will address a variety of topics. including: the demographic makeup of voters and how these factors inf luence their choice of candidate; the impact of the media and campaign strategies on voter opinion; how the current state of affairs of the nation may affect voter thinking; the role of the Electoral College; and debating the accuracy of polling.

Seminar led by Michael Mezey, DePaul University and Wayne Steger, DePaul University